BACKGROUND: To assess the non-adherence rate among pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients in Anhui Province, eastern China and to explore the influential factors, so as to identify targets for intervention.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 339 TB patients were recruited from TB dispensaries in 8 counties of Anhui Province, eastern China using a stratified sampling method. All study subjects were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Differences between groups involving categorical data were analyzed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS: Overall, of the 339 patients, 33.63% missed medication. Divorced and widowed patients were more likely to miss medication compared with those who were married or unmarried (P<0.01). Regarding the knowledge related to topics such as transmission route, preventive measures, and suspicious symptoms, the awareness rate in the group with good medication compliance was higher than in the group with poor compliance (P<0.05). We found that compliance was not significantly associated with seeking medical treatment in professional institutions, the national free TB treatment policy, or discrimination (P>0.05). The rate of non-compliance under supervision (26.10%) was lower than that without supervision (64.18%) (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The anti-TB treatment non-adherence rate in TB patients is relatively high in Anhui Province, eastern China, and is associated with marital status, annual income, TB knowledge, and medical staff visits.

Keywords: Factor Analysis, Statistical, Patient Compliance, Tuberculosis, Antitubercular Agents, Asians, Cross-Sectional Studies, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary